Slideshow: Wireless Charging Comes to Automobiles

Although a plug-in electric car has its advantages, some suppliers are betting that not all EV owners will want to plug in. Some, they say, will want to charge their cars wirelessly.

Today, the market for wireless car charging is small and moving slowly. A few manufacturers are working on internal projects, while others are talking with suppliers. Still, one study from RnRMarketResearch.com predicts rapid adoption of the technology, with total market size reaching $4.6 billion by 2019. ”We’re talking to a lot of auto manufacturers right now who are interested in the technology,” Lacy Heiberger, marketing manager for Evatran, told Design News.

We’ve collected photos and graphics of some of the newest charging pads for electric vehicle batteries, along with a couple systems targeted at charging of consumer devices in the car. From suppliers large and small, we offer a peek at what’s coming.

Click on the photo below to start the slideshow (which takes you to sister site Design News).

The Plugless system from Evatran uses inductive technology to transfer power wirelessly. When the Parking Pad on the ground aligns with the Vehicle Adaptor (installed on the vehicle’s undercarriage) the system awakens and automatically transfers energy across an air gap at power level consistent with those of a Level 2 charger. (Source: Evatran)

"By using electric instead of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, there should be a net reduction in greenhouse emissions" - I seriously doubt that. Electrical power in USA is mostly derived from burning coal so the net greenhouse emission will be higher...until you replace coal with wind, solar and nuclear, which will be 30 years at best, and never the worst case, you are adding extra burden to environment

By using electric instead of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, there should be a net reduction in greenhouse emissions. Public charging systems could be made to sense the presence of a car needing charging, sense the degree of charge the car has acquired, and turn themselves off when not being useful. And of course it all needs to be considered in terms of the cost/benefit including carbon calculations. Anyway, it was just a thought.

I hope those going thru this wastefull convienience suffer personally thru extreme weather events that they are helping to create...reasonable governments throught the world should not approve this way of charging vehicles in public...Kris

I cannot imagine that the wireless charging is anything near as efficient as plugging in directly. But I expect that many consumers will prefer it anyway because of convenience. This way you don't have to remember to plug your car in before you leave the garage.

It may also be possible that public wireless charging stations will become available, to encourage electric vehidle use in cities. If someone could drive for months without ever needing to worry about "fueling" their car these might become very desirable devices to urban dwellers.

Just as long as they carry a backup cable in their trunk for those times they are parked where wireless charging is not available.